Sehwag believes Daredevils can make IPL play-offs

Sehwag believes Daredevils can make IPL play-offs

Satisfied with the squad at his disposal for the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League, Delhi Daredevils captain Virender Sehwag believes if his side can play to its potential it can figure in the play-offs of the Twenty20 tournament this year.

Sehwag said with a strong batting and pace bowling line up at his disposal, Daredevils have the potential to go the distance in IPL 5.

"I clearly asked for specific players (in the auction) and got them, especially Mahela Jayawardene, Kevin Pietersen, Ross Taylor and Andre Russell. Hopefully, we will deliver and live up to the expectations of the Delhi Daredevils supporters," he said.

"I think it is good that we have a lot of Indian bowlers in the attack. I can then give the chance to foreign batsmen to be a part of the eleven. I am confident that we have bowlers like Varun Aaron, Umesh Yadav, Irfan Pathan and Shahbaz Nadeem and other all-rounders who can do the job as a bowling unit," Sehwag said in a statement issued by the Daredevils.

"Basically T20 is a batsman's game and if the bowlers can restrict the opposition to 150 or 160 or even 180, we can chase that down with the kind of batting we have got."

'Relying more on fast bowlers than spin'

Although the explosive Delhi batsman rued the absence of a quality spinner in the Daredevils squad, he said his side has the firepower in the pace department to upset any team.

"I think we tried everything but we were not left with enough in the auction purse to buy a world class spinner. We needed some top-class batsmen rather than one good quality spinner.

"We can rely on our fast bowling department which is very good. I think Umesh Yadav and Varun Aaron did a good job whenever they played last season as did Irfan Pathan and Morne Morkel. I am relying on my fast bowling attack rather than spin," Sehwag said.

Sehwag is presently recuperating from an inflammation in his sacroiliac joint and is out of the Indian squad in the ongoing Asia Cup in Bangladesh.

'Hopeful to play full season in IPL'

But the right-hander said he would return to full fitness soon and was expecting to play the entire IPL this year, which starts on April 4 in Chennai.

"Hopefully, I will be fine and will start working on my strength work when the inflammation is gone. I didn't play the full IPL season last year because of my shoulder injury but I am looking forward to play a full season (this year) for Daredevils," Sehwag said.

Asked whether he would like to bowl more this season, Sehwag said" "Why not? Last year I was playing with a shoulder injury. This year my shoulder is absolutely fine. I have already bowled many overs in Test matches and ODIs."